Core i3-3240 vs Core m5-6Y57

Core i3-3240

2 Cores4 Thrd55 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2012

Core m5-6Y57

2 Cores4 Thrd4.5 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2015

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-3240

2 / 4

2,352

+0.4%

2,342

0.0%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-3240 is positioned at rank 847 and the Core m5-6Y57 is on rank 1123, so the Core i3-3240 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3240

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

17492%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

16529%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

12001%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

3615%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

2864%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

2505%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

1435%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

1416%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

1289%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

1289%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

1275%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

1241%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

1223%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

1218%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

1207%

#847

Core i3-3240

MSRP: $132|Avg: $15

100%

#848

Pentium G640T

MSRP: $64|Avg: $69

100%

#849

Core i7-5930K

MSRP: $583|Avg: $410

100%

#851

Core i3-3240T

MSRP: $117|Avg: $8

100%

#852

Athlon II X2 240

MSRP: $60|Avg: $10

99%

#854

Core i5-2500S

MSRP: $192|Avg: $61

99%

#856

Athlon X2 BE-2400

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

98%

#857

Core i3-2102

MSRP: $117|Avg: $15

97%

#858

Pentium G850

MSRP: $86|Avg: $75

97%

#859

Core i5-3475S

MSRP: $249|Avg: $42

97%

#860

Core i7-2600K

MSRP: $317|Avg: $109

97%

#861

Pentium G860

MSRP: $86|Avg: $36

97%

#862

Athlon II X2 245

MSRP: $66|Avg: $15

96%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core m5-6Y57

#1110

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3522%

#1111

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3471%

#1112

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3186%

#1113

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3172%

#1114

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3143%

#1116

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3035%

#1117

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2910%

#1118

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2905%

#1119

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2827%

#1123

Core m5-6Y57

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

100%

#1124

Core i7-610E

MSRP: $250|Avg: $40

99%

#1125

Core i5-5350U

MSRP: $315|Avg: N/A

99%

#1126

Core i3-4100E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $30

99%

#1127

Pentium Dual Core T4300

MSRP: $150|Avg: $99

99%

#1128

Core i7-3520M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

99%

#1129

Core i3-2310E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $20

98%

#1130

Core i5-2510E

MSRP: $230|Avg: $30

98%

#1131

Core m5-6Y54

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

98%

#1133

Core i3-2330E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $10

97%

#1134

Core i5-4288U

MSRP: $342|Avg: N/A

93%

#1135

Core m3-6Y30

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

93%

#1136

Core i3-2340UE

MSRP: $200|Avg: $200

93%

#1137

Core i7-2820QM

MSRP: $568|Avg: N/A

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i3-3240 delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core m5-6Y57 in both compute-intensive tasks (0.4% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i3-3240	Core m5-6Y57
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($15)	⚠️ Higher cost ($281)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Skylake-Y (2015) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Core i3-3240 stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 95% cheaper ($15 vs $281) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core i3-3240	Core m5-6Y57
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+1781%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($15)	⚠️ Higher cost ($281)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i3-3240 Benchmark Check

Core m5-6Y57 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-3240 and Core m5-6Y57

Core i3-3240

The Core i3-3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,352 points. Launch price was $75.

Core m5-6Y57

The Core m5-6Y57 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-Y (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,342 points. Launch price was $281.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-3240 and Core m5-6Y57 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-3240 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core m5-6Y57 — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-3240 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i3-3240 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core m5-6Y57 uses Skylake-Y (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3240 scores 2,352 against the Core m5-6Y57's 2,342 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-3240. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3240 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core m5-6Y57.

Feature	Core i3-3240	Core m5-6Y57
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+21%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+209%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	4 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Skylake-Y (2015)
PassMark	2,352	2,342

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-3240 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core m5-6Y57 uses FCBGA1515 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-3240	Core m5-6Y57
Socket	LGA1155	FCBGA1515
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-3240 launched at $132 MSRP, while the Core m5-6Y57 debuted at $281. At current prices ($15 vs $281), the Core i3-3240 is $266 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-3240 delivers 156.8 pts/$ vs 8.3 pts/$ for the Core m5-6Y57 — making the Core i3-3240 the 179.8% better value option.